If you were wondering where I and my posts have been for the last few days, I think I’m currently going through (and slowly coming out of) what Seth Godin calls The Dip. It’s that time in all great plans, when the initial enthusiasm wears off and it all seems like too much hard work. I’m sure you know what I mean.

For me, I’ve been seriously gearing up to Ebook publishing for the best part of a year (finishing other projects, researching, defining my niche, planning books, and so on). I’ve got many things in place; the manuscript of my first book is going through final edits, I’ve got a website and blog to back up the books, I understand ebook formatting (almost), and in fact, everything is ready to go. So what’s stopping me, why is this now all too hard? Why has the ground slipped from my feet? Because I can’t decide on a cover design.

How crazy is that? To decide reaching ebook and online success is too hard purely because I can’t picture a book cover. Don’t get me wrong, a book cover is one of the most important parts of a book, but it is only one step in the process. But this is what The Dip is, and as in all things, if you know what you are facing you can overcome it. The other bonus of recognising The Dip is knowing that this is the point where many of the competition drop out, leaving more space for you. In the world of creating ebooks it might not be creating a cover that stops everyone – it might be doing the final re-write, it might be understanding ebook conversion, deciding who to sell through, or organising the tax issues so that you can sell in America. But sooner or later almost everybody slides into their Dip.

In this Journey I know there are going to be many aspects that will make me scream and sulk, but what kind of challenge would it be if I could do everything in an afternoon? None what so ever, and every so often we need to push against the limits of our abilities. Sitting still gets us nowhere.

Besides, the wonder of the internet is that there are many people who are a few steps ahead of us and who have been generous enough to share what they have learnt.

My Solution to the Dip

So if you find yourself slipping into The Dip:

1. First recognise it for what it is, just a natural part of the journey.
2. Go make yourself a drink and define what it is that’s really stopping you. Chances are it’s not really what you think it is. (Would you believe that I think my struggle with the cover really comes down to needing a haircut, how illogical is that?)
3. Once you know what’s really holding you up, it should be easy to list a simple step-by-step plan to get you out of The Dip.

My Dip Explained

If you want to understand the ‘Can’t do the cover because I need a haircut’ thing, here goes. My ebook is a ‘How-to’, many ‘how-to’s have a photo of the writer on the cover. I don’t know if I want my pic on the cover to be honest, but how will I know if I don’t play around with the designs? To do that, though, I need a recent, decent photo, which I can’t take now because the last time I went to the hairdressers I was unclear on what I wanted so I ended up with something different. It’s not a bad cut, I emphasise, just not my favourite one. Now I understand that in the scheme of things using a pic of me as is, is not a bad thing, but it would be nice for the cover photo to be current for more than 6 weeks.

Hence, it’s not the cover that’s causing The Dip, it’s me not getting my lazy whotsit out of the chair and going to the hairdressers. All I have to do is make an appointment, go to the appointment, explain myself clearly to the hairdresser, organise the taking of a picture, have fun researching and playing with covers and the whole thing is done. Now I ask you how crazy would it be to miss out on success for something so easily fixed.

Okay, you’ve talked me into it, I’m off to phone the hairdressers now.

Tags: Ebook Odyssey, goal setting, Journey to Ebook and Online Success, motivation, Seth Godin, The Dip, writing coach

G’day everyone, just a quick update to let you know that the comment section on this blog is now working again.

Turns out there was more than one programme that didn’t like the upgrading I was trying to do at the weekend. Which, as if to justify my previously stated thoughts on upgrading, stopped the comment section from working. But, of course, I didn’t know because I only post comments in response to your comments, and if I don’t get the comments I don’t have anything to reply to. All Catch 22 really.

So, thank you to the ladies who went to the trouble of posting me a message on Facebook, and thank you for your patience. Hopefully, it’s all fixed now.

Journey to Ebook and Online Success says everything about the journey I’m covering here this year. However, you have to admit it’s not the catchiest of phrases; it doesn’t roll smoothly off the tongue, nor does it fit easily on a website tab, and let’s face it, it’s rather long to stick a .com on the end of and make into to a domain name.

Picking a good name

These are some of the thoughts that have been lingering at the back of my mind this week. Names need to be catchy and clear. Like book titles, they need to explain and impact quickly and succinctly. They need to be easy to remember and easy to spell.

The phrase as it stands works well as a sub-title, but as soon as I tried shortening it there were other names, books and titles that it would be competing against. The well-known series of books and workshops by Brandon Bays, called The Journey, for example.

And finally …

It took me a while (and a few dud choices), but thanks to my critiquing group and ever-supportive Clare, the Journey now has a new, official name: EbookOdyssey. What do you think? Catchy? Clear?

Another defining aspect of picking the name was that the .com domain was still available. Everything created these days really needs a website to promote it, or at the very least one static webpage, but this is especially true of anything internet-based. I bought the domain name of ElizabethBezant many many years ago, so as to avoid anyone buying it first.

A gentle reminder: Don’t forget to buy the domain name for your book, your name, your book series or whatever else you have in mind to create and consider important.

Don’t leave it to the last minute and hope it will still be there, because believe me it’s frustrating to come up with the perfect name for your creation and then find you have to adapt the domain name because somebody has already bought the ideal one.

Domains are bought by the year, so there’s always a chance that if it’s been bought it may lapse, but that never seems to happen when you want it to. Of course, if the .com has been sold, you may be able to get the .com.au or the .net, but .com is without doubt the best (because it’s what most people are used to typing). Other suffixes available can also have different requirements; .org, for example, is only for organisations. So plan early.

TODAY’S STEP

1) Start contemplating the ideal domain name(s) for your blog or website, because if you’re going to take this seriously you’ll need one, if not both. Decide also if it’s worth getting the domain name of your name (or writing name).

2) Check out their availability. I usually visit GoDaddy, the site is easy to use and the domains are reasonably priced. Here’s the link if you want to have check out your options now.

If you decided to buy your domain names while you’re there, don’t feel you have to buy hosting or any other products at the moment. You may need them, you may not, but until you know exactly what you’re doing, buying the domain name is usually sufficient.

Tags: domain names, ebook, EbookOdyssey, Journey to Ebook and Online Success, odyssey, picking a good name, Writing to Inspire (my business site)

Earlier this week, back with all the grumbling and mumbling of the weekend, I was trying to put an RSS button this blog. RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication and basically means that instead of you having to visit your favourite blogs every day to see if anything new has been written you’re notified when the blog is updated. It’s a great time saver, but it also saves you from missing posts and keeps you up-to-date.

I’d always thought it would be great to have one on this site, but especially so now for those who are taking the steps of this Journey with me. After all, there’s absolutely no harm in making things a little easier on yourself, and there’s no denying that receiving regular updates will keep you motivated, and save you from being swamped with too many things to do because you got behind in your blog reading.

Sadly, though I didn’t quite get the RSS button sorted out, but I do have an equally good alternative. Feed My Inbox emails blog posts direct to your Inbox. This is a service they do free, although it costs if you choose to follow more than five blogs, but even that seems quite reasonable in this busy day and age.

Feed My Box was recommended to me by a trusted friend, and I gain nothing by promoting it – except the knowledge that it will make your life and Journey to Ebook and Online Success easier.

So, can you guess the step for today?

TODAY’S STEP
Visit Feed My Inbox, enter www.elizabethbezant.com in the ‘Web or Feed URL’ box and your email address in the box underneath.

Once you have, I’d love to know what you think of the service.

Tags: blogs, Elizabeth Bezant, Journey to Ebook and Online Success, RSS, writing

As you’ll know, if you’re on any of the social networking sites, all ask for profile pictures. These are small photos that appear beside your name every time you post a comment or status update.

If you don’t include a picture as part of your profile the site will simply put up a generic one in the space where one would go – Facebook put up a uniform silhouette, Twitter use an egg, and so on.

While it may not be the first thing you do when creating an account on these sites, it’s certainly something you should look in to early on.

Why?

Because we want to know what you look like, of course. Don’t you feel more confident talking to a person when you know what they look like? I’m not talking here about people you’ve known for a lifetime, but those you’ve only just met online. Or how about when you are trying to find people you want to talk to who you met once at a meeting, workshop or conference – wouldn’t a photo make them easier to identify from the many with the same name?

But it’s more than that, when you have such little time and space to create an impact and to grab attention, a picture has more impact than words.

***

PROFILE PICTURE TIPS

Using a picture of yourself

I can almost see some people cringing as I write this. As you probably know by now, I respect everybody’s personal choice, but honestly, don’t you prefer conversing with somebody when you have at least a vague idea of what they look like? In a world where the majority of us are primarily visual (I believe) it stands to reason that we are going to forge stronger, more genuine, honest relationships quicker if we know what each of us looks like. Even if all we can see the eyes, the side of the head or a person peering out from behind a tree. To those who are still cringing – at least think about the logic and what you hope to achieve from being online, please. (By the way, I’m still undecided about using the cover of your book as your pic long-term – great for promoting, bad for above reasons. Love to know your thoughts.)

Use a recent photo

I’m writing this, looking at the header and promo pics on Writing to Inspire and this blog – I know! I’m planning to update them soon. (I accept that, ‘It’s the hairstyle that gives me away, not the wrinkles,’ is no longer true.) A photo taken within the last 10 years is good, but within the last 12 months is better – again we are talking about honest relationships here.

It doesn’t have to be a professional shot

Although a good shot is worth the time it takes. Then again, don’t take that to mean it needs to be a traditional pose, casual works. Something that reflects your business, character and outlook on the world is always interesting, just avoid anything that’s too controversial and depicts you in a way that isn’t professional.

The size of your photo, both in memory and image

Most websites will let you know the maximum size your photo can be – if your picture is larger than this it won’t be uploaded on to their site. If your photo is too larger consider: Cropping it, making the dpi (dots per inch) less, saving it for web, or saving it as a .jpg. All these can help, and it’s probably worth mentioning here that 72dpi (last time I checked) was the recommended size for fast loading pictures on the web.

Don’t change it too often

This relates back to the ‘catching attention’ comment. If you change your picture every other week your followers won’t see your photo and automatically (and subconsciously) know the words beside it are yours. The only real reason why you would change a quality, professional is that it is no longer current.

***

If you happen to look at my profile photo, you’ll notice it’s a cropped picture of my ‘I Want to Write, but don’t know where to start’. It’s not my ideal photo, but it’s okay, and certainly more seasonal than the Christmas one it replaced. However as soon as my hair’s grown a little and I’ve been to the hairdressers, I hope to get a few good close-up shots done to pick from.

TODAY’S STEP

Organise and create a quality profile picture.

Tags: blog, create, facebook, Journey to Ebook and Online Success, profile, profile picture, social media, twitter

Well, it’s a sad fact that my weekend goal-setting time was spent fixing the blog.

For a while now I’ve been getting messages from Wordpress (the software I use for my blog) saying that I need to update to the latest version. So, after avoiding the task for months (because whenever you upgrade anything there always seems to be a hiccup) like a good blogger, I upgraded. Only once I had updated I then got a message saying that to make it the software work I had to update another piece of software. But when I went to do this I discovered the company I host my blog with haven’t updated their site to run that version!

I believe it was at this point I was unable to access my blog, and where I started to panic.

Thankfully, though, I had backed-up everything blog-related before I started, and after an hour of back-tracking my blog was up and running again. This is why I hate (grumble, mumble) updating.

Still, it has to be done to keep up with the times – I know this. So do my family (they also know my dislike of updating), so were generous with their time and patience – hence the fact that I am able to post this blog.


So my lesson to share from that:

1. Always, always back-up your work, especially if you are up-grading something.
2. Wordpress.org is great for blogging if you know more than a little bit about the technical stuff and code that goes on behind your site, but if you don’t …  There are many simpler blogs you can create (including Wordpress.com – don’t get the two confused). I hope to cover more about blog creation in future posts, just in case you were wondering.

Back to the goal setting

Thankfully, despite the ‘blog-update distraction’ I managed to put some time into what I want from this year. And, I’m pleased to say that, in comparison to a few years in the past, this year it wasn’t too hard. In fact, it was more about defining what I want to focus on, rather than setting goals, which has always been the way for me. Writing just offers too many opportunities, sometimes it’s hard not to get distracted by them. So what am I doing? Along with all the regular critiquing, online courses and coaching I do, this year will be focussing entirely on ebook publication, success and promotion of my journey. Now I have a plan, I’m on-course.


So how did your goal setting go? What do you want your writing to achieve this year?

What do you want to achieve from this journey? Let me know so that I can do my best to make sure it’s included.

Tags: blog, Elizabeth Bezant, wordpress, writing

If you’re looking for some inspiring reading this weekend, check out my Book of the Month – John Locke’s ‘How I sold 1 million ebooks in 5 months’.

It was this book, along with a couple of others, that convinced me I was capable and that it was worth the effort, to progress in to Ebooks.

If you’re a total novice at how social media  (Facebook and Twitter) work, there maybe a few aspects that you’ll need to read twice, but it’s an easy book to read. His concept for success is so straight-forward, you’ll wonder why we’re not all best-sellers.

Anyway, it’s worth a look. Even if you’re only half considering creating Ebooks, it’s worth buying. The links are the Book of the Month page (along with my review) if you should agree with me.

Have a great weekend.

Don’t forget that goal setting.

Tags: best sellers, book review, ebooks, Elizabeth Bezant, john locke, promotion, publicity, writing

Today, as I sit here supposedly editing my Effective Goal Setting for Writers workbook (so that it will read well as an Ebook), I’m reminded that if I want to achieve success it would be helpful if I could define what my idea of success is. So guess what my task is for this weekend?

Do you have a clear idea of what you want to gain from this Journey to Ebook and Online Success?

Do you want to end the year completely confident within your technical and Ebook abilities or do you just want to pick up a few particular things along the way. How to promote your Ebook perhaps, or even how to create one?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

My other thought was that I needed a JOURNEY DISCLAIMER (I know, but I have to have one). I hate to include one because it kind of detracts from my whole concept of a friendly blog, but I probably should have one. I’m just about to write something more official and post it somewhere, urr, appropriate, but here’s the friendly, shortened version. If you do choose to accompany me on this journey, please don’t sue me if you don’t achieve all the money, wealth and fame you assume goes with being an Ebook and Online Success.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m taking this venture very seriously and want nothing more for you (and me, of course) to finish this year with best-sellers on Amazon and squillions in the bank, but I can’t guarantee it. You know that. The real point of this journey is to help writers cross the divide from physical to virtual, and hopefully attain some money and success along the way.

Well, having covered that, I probably should get back to the editing.

I have to add one thing though. It all seems rather tedious converting manuscripts back to Microsoft Word documents for the Ebooking process, after having spent years playing and perfecting the use of expensive software programs to make them .pdfs, ready for printers and traditional self-publishing.

TODAY’S STEP

Take some time over the weekend to define exactly what you want to achieve this year. Then meet me back here on Tuesday and we can compare goals.

Tags: ebook, goal setting, online success, writers

It took me a while to get into Facebook.

I was concerned about Facebook safety, that faceless people would start stealing info off my computer and replace it with a virus. I didn’t want anybody to know more about my life than I cared to share. There were no end of fears and concerns that stopped me from pressing that final button to sign up.

Every time somebody said I should I enrol, I asked them why. ‘You just should,’ was the most common answer, which of course didn’t help at all. So, since people give the same answer, let me start with my reasons for getting a Facebook account.

• Even if you don’t have the chance to physically talk to a friend from one month to the next, staying in touch is as easy as clicking the LIKE button or writing a one sentence response to the comments.
• You’re always up to date with everybody’s news (or what they choose to share online) and it only takes as long as it takes for you to read their message. It’s just as easy for you to share news too. Don’t forget this is not just friends we are talking about, it includes keeping up-to-date with publishers, readers, other writers and whoever else you choose.
• It’s the quickest and friendliest way I know of staying in touch and being part of a community – and that includes your book buying public.
• The final pieces of logic that tipped the balance for me were the fact that I can still use my own safety protocols, that if people are really determined to be mean or discover info about they are going to do it whether I’m on Facebook or not, and finally, … the motor car was a new invention once, yet we take it for granted now.

So, yes, I finally gave in to peer pressure despite my concerns about Facebook safety, and a year down the track none of my fears have eventuated – to my knowledge.

So what are my safety protocols you ask?

I don’t know if it’s my age or my outlook but I am by nature wary – especially of things I can’t see or don’t entirely understand. Don’t ask how long it took for me to get a credit card.

I believe the internet (like credit cards) are amazing, life-changing things, but there are still poor, misguided fools out there who aren’t always as generous as they should be, so here are my personal safety protocols with regards to Facebook safety.

1. I didn’t click on the button that let Facebook search my email addresses to help me find friends on Facebook. I did it one by one at my own speed.
2. I didn’t accept anyone to be a ‘friend’ who wasn’t actually a friend in real life.
3. I don’t share personal information that I wouldn’t tell a stranger on the street.
4. If I wanted to play a game or do an activity that said it needed to access my personal or profile information I immediately decided I didn’t want to do it.
5. If anybody sends me an online gift I don’t open it. To me that’s like opening an email attachment, you never know quite what’s in it until it’s too late to close it.

Now I’m sure there are many people who would tell me I’m over-reacting (and who knows they may be right) but that’s my choice, just as it is yours. All I’m saying is that, even if you sign up to this amazing community called Facebook, you still want to have your wits about you, just as you would if you went somewhere new in person.

No regrets

Having said that, I, as yet, have not once regretted joining Facebook. No, I take that back – there have been occasionally sleepless nights because I got too engrossed in one of their addictive games, but other than that, it’s good.

The instructions for signing up are quite straight-forward.

1. You want a profile page if it’s just for socialising and keeping up with your favourite groups, celebrities and Writing Coaches. Most people start with a profile page.
2. You’ll want a fan page it you’re doing it for promotion. The main difference that I can see is that if it’s a profile page you get to see all the posts your friends make, while if you have a fan page you’ll only see your posts and the comments people make about them.
3. Fill out your profile information, your privacy settings, and find a flattering photo (that was preferably taken of you within the last ten years).
4. Search out your friends and ask them to ‘friend’ you so that you can see each other’s posts.
5. Search out fan pages you would like to follow and LIKE them.
6. And stay away from Bejewelled if you get addicted to awesome games and want sleep.

Little steps

I know there is way more you can do on Facebook, and this is an extremely limited introduction to it, but that is all it is – an Introduction. Just enough to help you decide if you’re going to dive in or back away from the edge. The choice, as always, is entirely yours.

You will however, if you’ve decided to watch or be part of this Journey to Ebook and Online Success, soon realise the benefits of Facebook. But my personal thought is that it’s worth your time, even if you only join today and do nothing else other than LIKE the Writing to Inspire fanpage, just remember my Facebook safety protocols. You can progress at whatever pace you wish. I think I was online for a month before I did more than ‘friend’ a couple of my friends.

TODAY’S STEP

1. If you aren’t yet on Facebook, seriously consider joining. I’m not saying your online success depends on it, but you could miss a lot of the action by keeping your distance. I’d be lost without it.
2. Search out Elizabeth Bezant and ask to be my friend, there’s an extremely high probability I’ll say yes, especially if you tell me you are only doing it because I told you to.
3. Search out Writing to Inspire and click LIKE. The first of these pages is a profile page, the second is a fan page. By being part of both, not only will you know everything that’s going on, but you’ll also see how each operates differently from the other.

I look forward to becoming your friend on Facebook really soon.

Oh yes, and if you’ve any other great reasons for joining Facebook I’d love to hear them, OK you can give me the warnings too if you must.

Tags: ebooks, Elizabeth Bezant, facebook, facebook for beginners, facebook help, facebook safety, online, promotion, writers

G’day everyone, sabbatical is over and I’m back.

I have sooooooo many plans for 2012 and I thought you might like to take the journey with me from here (or wherever you are) to hugely successful ebook writer and online presence.

Like many other writers, I’ve been paying close but nervous attention to the advancement of technology, ebooks and social media over the years. Nervous, not because I don’t think it will become the norm, or because I think it brings with it numerous advantages, but because I know it will require me to live in a world where I am actively involved in technology. Yes, I have a blog, I created a website and last year I actually got a mobile phone plan that includes use on the internet, but that all feels like dipping my toes in the IT ocean compared to diving whole-heartedly into this new technological world.

Still, as my mother said when I was a teenager and refused to give a reading at the village church, even after the Vicar cycled to our house in the rain to ask, I know my own mind.

So, enough is enough, no more dillydallying on the edge, clear the way, diver coming through.

Care to join me?

Here’s the plan; as I take this stupendous and exciting journey I’m going to blog every step, hiccup, success, concern and whatever else appears on the way.

If you’re brave enough take the journey with me we can marvel in our new found knowledge together. If you’re not quite ready to jump, not a problem, learn from our experiences. And if you are, by any chance, already confidently surfing the wave, maybe you’d like to call past occasionally and throw us a line.

So what do you think? Are you up for it?

If you are, call back really soon.

If you’ve already dipped your toe and progressed to FACEBOOK and Twitter, why not join me there to experience the journey in 3D?

Tags: ebooks, social networking, understanding, writers, writing